Spaniard swimmer Rafael Blanco Sunday beat the world record of 50m butterfly, timing 22.43 seconds in the Spain's championship held in Malaga, south of Spain.

The previous mark was held by South African Roland Schoeman in 22.96 seconds at the World Cup Montreal 2005. The European record was 23.11 seconds, set up by Serbian Minorad Capic.

Blanco is the first European swimmer to reduce the barrier of the 23 seconds in 50 meter butterfly.

Blanco, 21, had also achieved the second best record in history of 100m butterfly with a time of 50.58 seconds, with this he is coming closer to the best swimmers of the world.

"My goal is to get the world record, today I did it in 50 meter butterfly, but my real goal is to achieve it on 100m," Blanco said.

(Xinhua News Agency April 7, 2009)